1.10 Make An Heir

"You ought to have a legitimate heir, CEO Lu! You're only 41, still young enough to marry and have kids. Your father also had you when he was around your age. Please consider it instead of handing the company over to some wild child from nowhere!"

Lu Yizhou pressed on his temple, frowning.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was so heavy and tense as the CEO and major shareholders were locked in an argument that had spanned for the last few years. The topic was always the same; asking him to marry a good woman and birth an heir for the Lu Group. What was he, a birthing machine? Did they think that he was so naive not to know that it was their way to stuff their daughters into his embrace?

As expected, hearing no response from Lu Yizhou, Director Shao cleared his throat and added. "We are all thinking on behalf of the Lu Group. How about this, my daughter has just returned from Korea last week. She's already a Professor at the age of 26. Do you want to try meeting her just once?"

Lu Yizhou quietly sneered. "Really, Director Shao? You're willing to push your daughter to a man 15 years older than her?"

"Aiyah, how can you say it like that?" Director Shao rebuked passionately. "Just ask anyone out there, who would believe that Lu Group's CEO is already in his forties? You haven't changed at all since a decade ago. My daughter was even surprised to hear your actual age, she thought you're only in your thirties!"

"Yeah, CEO Lu indeed doesn't look his age."

"He will be able to charm anyone he wants…"

Secretary Nan Peiyu who sat by Lu Yizhou's right, cleared his throat. "Attention, everyone. We have strayed from the topic in hand."

The ruckus died down a bit yet Director Shao still didn't want to give up. "Please consider my suggestion, CEO Lu. If you're afraid that your children will inherit your heart disease, don't be. Your father's case was quite a rare one. There's a 60% possibility that your children will be born healthy. Don't you want to have your own blood and flesh?"

Bang!

Lu Yizhou threw the thick report in his hand to the table, causing Director Shao's words to die down in his throat.

"I will repeat this for the last time." He swept his gaze over everyone and asserted in a heavy tone, "In this life, I, Lu Yizhou will only have one heir and his name is Ren Zexi. This winter, he has helped out in the company as my personal assistant and also led two major projects. Do you have any complaints regarding his work ethics?"

Everyone turned silent. At such a young age, Ren Zexi had shown boundless potential to be a leading entrepreneur. His ideas and suggestions were well thought and innovative; they had been implemented into Lu Group's newest project. Up to this day, the project had reaped 100% profit and was expected to develop even more in the future.

"I don't care if my children will inherit my heart disease nor am I interested to find out about it. I don't want to hear this kind of conversation in future meetings again." His gaze landed on Director Shao in the end and it was clear to see whom the last sentence was directed to. It was only Director Shao — that old baldy man — who hadn't given up on shoving his daughter to Lu Yizhou after everyone else had pretty much learned to cope with his stubbornness.

Director Shao's face almost turned purple from frustration but he kept his mouth shut obediently.

Lu Yizhou nodded, satisfied. "Good. If I hear it next time, then be prepared to step down from your position as the shareholders. I know that the majority of you have been with Lu Group since my father's era, but the CEO and decision maker is me right now. I am different from my father. Please take note of that."

Lu Yizhou slowly calmed his breathing down to not let the agitation get to his heart again. "Let's continue today's discussion. Where are we now?"

***

Lu Yizhou entered his office and directly opened the drawer to take his medicine out. Secretary Nan closed the door behind him, worry marred his face. "Are you okay, CEO Lu?"

Lu Yizhou nodded as he swallowed the same dose of pills he had taken for the last decade and downed it with water.

"Director Shao is really too much!" Secretary Nan exclaimed in anger. "His daughter has just returned from Korea and she indeed has excellent qualifications but I heard some unpleasant rumors that she spends money like water and…" He bent down to whisper. "She also likes to play with younger boys. I guess Director Shao is anxious that no one will be able to afford his daughter so he keeps trying to push her to you."

A thin smile formed on Lu Yizhou's face. "Your network is as comprehensive as usual."

"Thank you for your compliment." Secretary Nan bowed graciously. "But you do know that people like Director Shao aren't the first and he won't be the last either, right? If you indeed don't have any plan to marry, why don't you think of a cover to shoo them away?"

"A cover?" Lu Yizhou laughed coldly. "Do you want me to hire a fake girlfriend, Secretary Nan?"

"Of course, it's all merely a suggestion on my part. No need to take it to heart." The man hastily corrected his words and handed Lu Yizhou a report. "This is an urgent proposal in need of your approval, CEO Lu."

"What is this?"

"A business plan competition for high school and university students. You asked me for this last time." Secretary Nan put on a confused look. "Do you really want to go on with this?"

It's really weird, Nan Peiyu thought. Their Lu Group didn't need to sponsor this kind of shabby competition at all. Without them needing to dig out hidden talents, many experienced and skillful applicants would fight to get into Lu Group. The Big Boss' reputation and his awe-inspiring net annual profit was the biggest attraction there was. Only small, newbie companies would have held this kind of contest.

Lu Yizhou scanned the report. [Is it this?]

[666: Yes! According to the plot, the protagonist, Jing Xuehao, is on his way to enter this competition. With his senior slash partner's help, they will win first place and obtain two million dollars. This amount of money is also what Jing Xuehao used to start a company. Not only that, the competition will also be a place where he garnered the attention from one of the main juries, Chairman Ruan, who will finally become his largest investor and golden finger. In a way, Jing Xuehao's luck starts to kick in from this competition.]

Lu Yizhou returned the report to Secretary Nan. "Throw this proposal away and spread the word that Lu Group isn't interested in this kind of thing."

[666: W—WHAT?! What are you doing?! If you do this—]

[Do I eliminate the protagonist?]

[666: Well, y—you don't…]

[Then do I make his life worse than death? No, right? I am only throwing a small pebble onto his path. If he's the protagonist of this world, then he will get back up again in no time.]

"Are you sure, CEO Lu?" Secretary Nan asked, perplexed. He was asking for this competition only to throw the proposal away? And also…to spread the word that he wouldn't invest in it?

The people from the other end were already throwing a party because Lu Group's Big Boss was asking for them. If they knew that Lu Yizhou didn't have the slightest intention to invest in them, what would they do? Moreover, if the other investors were to catch wind of the rumours, then no one would be willing to inject their funds anymore because they certainly wouldn't want to offend such a big whale like Lu Yizhou!

This competition was practically doomed!

Exactly what had those people done to offend him?

"Do I need to repeat myself twice?" Lu Yizhou frowned.

"No, no need." Secretary Nan lit a candle inwardly for this unlucky start-up company. "I will do as you say. Next, here's the report for the Feng Clan." He hesitated again. "May I ask why...are you suddenly interested in them?"

Lu Yizhou pretended he heard nothing and proceeded to read the report. Looking into Feng Clan was a private business of his. He had to make sure that Ren Zexi wouldn't bump into Feng Chaoluo in this life so as to not let the teenager get caught in this quagmire called the mafia.

Good, he nodded in satisfaction. After Old Master Feng didn't manage to find a good successor for years, he finally started to nurture a child from the side branch. A silent war had started under the current and what Lu Yizhou had to do was to push the boat along the waves and let them be drowned.

He opened his drawer and took out a flashdisk. "This," He pushed it forward. "Send this to the police and secretly tip them off. It's the evidence of Feng Clan's illegal dealings over the years. Now is the perfect time to act."

Secretary Nan was shocked. "This…" CEO Lu wasn't satisfied with his enormous Lu Group and even wanted to devour the mafia clan? No, most importantly, he had no idea since when Lu Yizhou started to gather this crucial information and he was supposed to be that man's secretary!

"Do it as soon as possible. You should know how to act without having me to teach you again, right?"

"Y—Yes, sir!" Secretary Nan held the flashdisk like his life depended on it and left, still dazed. Damn it, he cursed inwardly. Exactly to what extent did Lu Yizhou wish to pamper Young Master Ren? When it was the latter's turn to sit in that position later, how scary would Lu Group have become?

Lu Yizhou leaned back on the chair and sighed. [One more obstacle eliminated. This way, the only factor that will be able to affect Ren Zexi is the protagonists.]

[666: Host is powerful! Host is mighty! Host is the most awesome!!!]

He harrumphed and looked out of the window overlooking the faint rumbles of lightning up in the sky. [I wonder how Ren Zexi was doing against Jing Xuehao? At this time, he should have returned home already, right?]

He dialed the mansion's number and Butler An picked up. "Hello, who is speaking?"

"It's me." Lu Yizhou said. "How is Zexi?"

"Master Lu, that…" Hesitation was evident in Butler An's tone. "Young Master still hasn't returned and he doesn't pick up his phone either. Earlier this evening, he indeed said that he would be going out with his classmates. Should I ask the bodyguards to search for him?"

"He's still not home?" Lu Yizhou frowned and glanced at the time.

It was 10.15 pm.